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Thought it would be interesting to see what we require to maintain our health and live a somewhat comfortable life.I keep reading how ADAP may be changing and am frankly scared shitless because if they do eliminate all drugs but anti virals I just don't think I will be able to face the pain of everyday life. I mean, taking the combos for over 16 years now has taken a toll on my body and I face irreversible changes and severe pain.So here goes my list: Daily pills:

Intellence Androgel 2 paks a day Xanax for anxiety 4 - 1 mg Isentress Hydrocodone 1 - 12.5 mg for 'break out pain' Prozac for depression 2 - 60mgEpzicom Oxycontin extended release 2 - 80 mgs Marinol 2 - 10 mgs for relief of pain/relaxation(400 Ts Marinol 2 - 10mg for pain relief/relaxation Therems Vitamins and undetectable) Vitamin C & Calcium supplements Pravastatin Iron supplements Mega Men Vitamin packs 2 different Laxatives due to Pain Med Constipation (along with 4 enemas during the week)Total cost for the past year by ADAP $82,000.I will kill myself if my pain meds will not be covered as I cannot get out of bed without them. I put an Oxy on my bedside table with a glass of ice. I wake up @ 5 am in such tremendous pain that I cannot even sit up. 1 hour later and I can finally move but the pain and aches are still there.Living in NYS with all the cases here, I am wondering if we all will be spared the cuts the rest of the country is now facing. I say this with some hope as just this week my clinic lost another 5 employees due to a cut in funding.Trying to stay strong and hope for the best...not only for myself but for everyone who is in the same ADAP boat.

*Side note: During a case manager review (been denied my own case manager as the wait for one is over a year) He told me NOT to apply for Medicare (I do have the hospitalization benefit) if I am on ADAP since doing so would wipe out my SSDI money for co pays.

My biggest issue is keeping my triglycerides in control. I eat as well as possible and do some exercising daily and still have high triglycerides. It drives me crazy!

I have been on Atripla for a little over 2 years now and it seems to be working well for me, although my CD4 count hovers between 250 - 300; I wish my counts would go higher, but at least my viral load is undetectable. I have been HIV+ for 23 years.

Dont take vitamin supplements even though I know I should because they all give me gas....Try to eat healthy and limit junk food....fast food a couple of times a month, no ice cream in years... Almonds and fruit are my snacks.As well, I have practically eliminated cows milk from my diet.... I now drink almond milk, and my chronic sinusitus(which I attributed mainly to HIV) has practically disappeared.I recommend anyone who is still drinking milk to switch to rice or almond milk.....you will be amazed how much better you will feel.

after 20+ yrs with AIDS, when I have taken regimens requiring 32 or 28 pills and tablespoons of anti-retrovirals per day (not to mention all the OTC stuff I took for side effects), I am very happy to be down to 4 pills that I take once a day (and there are no side effects anymore to counter):Reyataz, Norvir, Truvada and Acyclovir.

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leatherman (aka mIkIE)

All the stars are flashing high above the seaand the party is on fire around you and meWe're gonna burn this disco down before the morning comes- Pet Shop Boys chart from 1992-2015Isentress/Prezcobix

My most recent I.D. and Cardiology visits reflect that I am doing GREAT, on paper...my numbers are fantastic, and basically, they are telling me "you are fine, you have no problems, and you have nothing to complain about". So why do I feel so listless and draggy, and tired all the time? I attribute it to the simple fact that I take a SHIT LOAD of meds each day. Who would feel good taking what I take???

Just sayin'.........

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"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

That about covers it. I don't really think about the medications that much. It got to a point that sometimes I use to forget whether I'd taken them or not. So had to set up a routine when I finished taking one set I'd place all the meds for the next set on my kitchen counter waiting. Seems to work.

PS Forgot...I don't take anything for Cholesterol. Last blood test showed me at 110. So my doc doesn't feel there's any need in that area. Actually my blood results have generally been good overall. Not exactly sure why I'm lucky in that regard. I have a good diet and workout regularly, don't drink or do drugs but I think it's more genetics than anything else...at least that's my theory...

Currently taking a daily total of 17 meds while only two meds for AIDS, the rest for other body organs effected by years of retrovirals. Diagnosed with Lung Cancer 2012, COPD Stage 4 2015, IBS 2013, Chronic Cystitis, Chronic Renal Failure, Hearing Loss, Depression and everyday comes with different health episodes which has sent me to the Er via EMS on a regular basis. My quality of life has been impacted dramatically.

Going thought some of this and I must be a rare case as I hardly take any meds at all! Here is my list:

Atripla 600/300/200Crestor 10Valtrex 500

Currently being treated for a latent TB infection so I am taking Isoniazid 300 for the next 6 months for a total of 9 months. This only showed up after I was switched from Trizivir, which was a complete shock for me.